Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

ABSTRACT

An ice maker and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator may include a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit has a front end in front of the ice tray, and is configured to flow the cold air from a top the guide unit into a space above the ice tray.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a low temperature. The refrigerator can be configured to store the food in a frozen or refrigerated state according to the type of food to be stored. The inside of the refrigerator is cooled down by continuously supplied cold air, and the cold air is continuously generated by the heat exchange action of a refrigerant by way of a refrigeration cycle going through the process of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. Since the cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly delivered inside the refrigerator owing to convection, the food inside the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature.

An ice maker may be provided in the refrigerator for the convenience of use. The ice maker may make ice by supplying cold air to water and storing a predetermined amount of ice. The ice maker may include an ice making tray for making ice, and an ice storage unit for storing the ice made by the ice making tray.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can effectively make ice, and a refrigerator having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker that can reduce the time for freezing water (i.e., making ice), and a refrigerator having the same.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit has a front end in front of the ice tray, and is configured to flow the cold air from a top the guide unit into a space above the ice tray.

The rotation unit may include an ice removing shaft in or above the ice tray and having a preset length; and a drive (e.g., motor) or drive housing in front of the guide unit, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft, wherein the drive housing blocks air flow from the front end of the guide unit (e.g., the cold air from the guide unit is blocked by the drive housing).

The guide unit may further comprise a side wall (e.g., a passage-forming side wall) having a height or uppermost surface or edge corresponding to an uppermost surface or edge (e.g., a top of a side wall) of the ice tray at one side along a width of the guide unit, and the ice maker may further comprise an opening (e.g., a passage groove) through which the cold air flows, between the side walls of the ice tray and the guide unit.

The ice maker may further include a cover unit on or above the ice tray, and the cover unit may include a side wall (e.g., a guide side wall) at one side thereof, in or along a width direction of the cover unit, extending toward the side wall of the guide unit by a preset length.

The guide side wall may be partially or fully coplanar with the passage forming side wall.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit comprises a first (e.g., passage-forming) side wall, the ice tray comprises a second side wall (e.g., along a width direction of the guide unit), and each of the first and second side walls has a height corresponding to each other, and the ice maker further includes a passage (e.g., a passage groove) through which the cold air flows, between the side wall of the ice tray and the passage-forming side wall.

The ice maker may further include a cover unit on or above the ice tray, and the cover unit includes a side wall at a side of the cover unit in or along a width direction (e.g., of the cover unit), extending toward the passage-forming side wall by a preset length.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice maker comprising an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit has a front end in front of the ice tray, and is configured to flow the cold air flow from a top or a top surface of the guide unit into a space above the ice tray.

The guide unit may comprise a passage-forming side wall (e.g., at one side along a width direction of the guide unit), the ice tray may comprise a second side wall, and each of the first and second side walls may have a height corresponding to each other (e.g., a top of the side wall of the ice tray may be coplanar with a top of the side wall of the guide unit), and the ice maker may further comprise a passage through which the cold air flows, between the side wall of the ice tray and the side wall of the guide unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ice maker that can effectively make ice and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.

In addition, an ice maker that can reduce the time required for freezing water and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary ice maker suitable for the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice maker of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an exemplary flow of air around an ice tray;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed embodiments may be modified in a variety of forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are provided to explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes of the elements in the drawing may be exaggerated to emphasize more clear descriptions.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention may include a main body 10 and a door 20.

Hereinafter, the direction from the rear side to the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a thickness direction, the direction from one side surface to another side surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a width direction, and the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a height direction. The door(s) 20 are at the front of the refrigerator 1, and the icemaker 30 is adjacent to the top surface of the refrigerator 1.

The main body 10 provides and/or defines the overall external shape of the refrigerator 1. At least one storage room 11 may be inside the main body 10. The storage room(s) 11 inside the main body 10 may be partitioned by a barrier 12. The storage room(s) 11 may include a refrigeration room R and a freezer room F. For example, the refrigeration room R may be at or in the upper part of the main body 10, and the freezer room F may be at or in the lower part of the main body 10.

At least one door 20 is on the main body 10. The door 20 opens and closes the storage room 11. For example, the door 20 is hingedly or pivotally fixed to the main body 10 to rotate and may open and close the storage room 11 as it rotates with respect to the main body 10. The number of doors 20 may correspond to the number of partitions of the storage room 11. For example, doors 20 are provided in front of the refrigeration room R and the freezer room F, respectively, and may individually open and close a corresponding one of the refrigeration room(s) R and the freezer room(s) F. For example, two doors 20 may be in front of the refrigeration room Ron the left and right sides. One or more shelves 21 may be on the inside surface of the door 20.

An ice maker 30 may be at or on one side of the storage room 11. For example, the ice maker 30 may be in one refrigeration room R and/or at the upper part of one of the storage rooms 11. Alternatively, the ice maker 30 may be in one door 20 or in the freezer room F.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker suitable for the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice maker of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ice maker of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a side view showing an exemplary flow of air around an ice tray, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 8, the ice maker 30 may include a case 100, an ice making assembly 200, an ice bucket 300, a discharge unit 400 and a transfer unit 500.

The ice maker 30 may make and store ice.

Hereinafter, the direction from a cold air duct 110 to the discharge unit 400 is referred to as a first direction X, a direction perpendicular to the first direction X (e.g., a horizontal direction and/or in a plane) is referred to as a second direction Y, and the vertical direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y is referred to as a third direction Z. In addition, a side on which the discharge unit 400 is located is referred to as a front side, and a side on which the cold air duct 110 is located is referred to as a rear side.

The external shape of the ice maker 30 may be defined in part by the case 100. The case 100 may have a preset volume and a space for accommodating constitutional components of the ice maker 30 therein. The case 10 may be fixed at a point inside the storage room 11 or inside the door 20.

The ice making assembly 200 may make ice by exchanging heat of or in the water with cold air (e.g., from the duct 42). The ice making assembly 200 may include an ice tray 2100, a guide unit 2200, a rotation unit 2300 and a cover unit 2400.

The ice tray 2100 is configured to contain water. The water in the ice tray 2100 is solidified (e.g., becomes ice) through heat exchange with cold air. The ice tray 2100 may comprise a container having a center portion that is concave downwards (e.g., U-shaped), and a space and/or preset volume for containing water may be on or in the ice tray 2100. For example, the ice tray 2100 may comprise a multi-compartment container, each compartment being configured to hold a predetermined volume of liquid water and optionally having a convex lower surface, in which the center of each compartment has a greater depth than along the sidewalls of each compartment. The ice tray 2100 may have a preset length along the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. For example, the ice tray 2100 may be rectangular as seen from the top (e.g., in a plan view).

A heater 2110 may be under the ice tray 2100. The heater 2110 may contact the bottom surface of the ice tray 2100 at least at one point. When the ice made in the ice tray 2100 is transferred to the ice bucket 300 by the rotation unit 2300, the heater 2110 may heat the bottom surface of the ice tray 2100 so that the ice may be effectively separated from the ice tray 2100.

The front end of the ice tray 2100 is spaced apart from the drive housing 2320 of the rotation unit 2300 by a preset distance. Accordingly, a space having a preset length in the first direction X is between the front end of the ice tray 2100 and the drive housing 2320.

The guide unit 2200 may be under the ice tray 2100. The guide unit 2200 forms a path for flowing cold air onto and/or around the ice tray 2100. The cold air flowing between the guide unit 2200 and the ice tray 2100 cools down the ice tray 2100 to freeze the water in the ice tray 2100. The guide unit 2200 may have a preset length in the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The guide unit 2200 may contact the ice tray 2100 at least at one point and may support the ice tray 2100. The rear end of the guide unit 2200 in the first direction X may communicate with the cold air duct 110 that supplies the cold air. The guide unit 2200 may be fixed to the inside surface of the case 100 or to the cold air duct 110.

The front end of the guide unit 2200 is located in front of the ice tray 2100 (e.g., in front of a front end of the ice tray 2100) in the first direction X. The cold air from the guide unit 2200 (e.g., that flows in front of the guide unit 2200) is blocked (e.g., by the drive housing 2320) to prevent the cold air from flowing downwards and/or out of the ice maker 30. For example, the front end of the guide unit 2200 may be open and may contact the drive housing 2320. Accordingly, the cold air is blocked by the drive housing 2320 at the front end of the guide unit 2200, and downward cold air flow can be prevented. In addition, a partition wall may be at the front end of the guide unit 2200. Accordingly, the cold air may flow from the top or top surface of the guide unit 2200 to the space above the ice tray 2100 through a space and/or opening in front of and/or in the front end of the ice tray 2100.

The guide unit 2200 comprises a side wall 2210. At least an outer area of the guide unit 2200 (e.g., in or along the second direction Y) may be or comprise a passage-forming side wall 2210. The top of the passage-forming side wall 2210 may correspond to (e.g., may be coplanar with) the top of the side wall of the ice tray 2100. In addition, at least one passage or passage groove 2101 may be along the first direction X between the passage-forming side wall 2210 and the outside surface of the ice tray 2100. For example, the passage(s) 2101 may be or comprise an area on the outside surface of or in an uppermost part of the ice tray 2100 (e.g., a recess, for example in a direction toward the inside of the ice tray 2100, spaced apart from the passage-forming side wall 2210). Alternatively, the passage(s) 2101 may be or comprise an area in (e.g., on the inside surface of) the passage-forming side wall 2210 (e.g., a recess for example in a direction toward the outside of the ice tray 2100, spaced apart from the outside surface of the ice tray 2100). In addition, the passage(s) 2101 may be through the ice tray 2100 and the side wall 2210 (e.g., on the outside surface of the ice tray 2100 and the inner side surface of the passage-forming side wall 2210). The cold air from the guide unit 2200 (e.g., between the bottom surface of the ice tray 2100 and the top surface of the guide unit 2200) may flow into the space above the ice tray 2100 through the passages 2101.

The rotation unit 2300 moves the ice in the ice tray 2100 to the ice bucket 300. The rotation unit 2300 may include an ice removing shaft 2310 and a drive housing 2320. The drive housing 2320 may enclose a drive (e.g., motor) configured to rotate the ice removing shaft 2310.

As the ice removing shaft 2310 rotates, the ice in the ice tray 2100 is moved to the outside of the ice tray 2100. The ice removing shaft 2310 has a preset length and may be in a space above the ice tray 2100. The length of the ice removing shaft 2310 may be in or along the first direction X. One or more ice removing prominences 2311 may be along the ice removing shaft 2310. The ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may extend from the outer surface of the ice removing shaft 2310 by a preset length. The ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may not contact the water in the ice tray 2100 when the rotation unit 2300 is in a standby state (i.e., not in an operational state). When the ice removing shaft 2310 rotates for transfer of the ice, the ice removing prominence(s) 2311 may push the ice out of the ice tray 2100.

A drive unit (e.g., motor) inside the drive housing 2320 provides power for rotating the ice removing shaft 2310. The drive housing 2320 may be located at one side of the ice tray 2100 along or with respect to the first direction X. The drive housing 2320 may be located on the opposite side of the ice removing shaft 2310 from the cold air duct 110. One end of the ice removing shaft 2310 may be inserted into the drive housing 2320 by a preset length and connected to the driving unit (e.g., motor) inside the drive housing 2320.

The cover unit 2400 may be on or over the ice tray 2100, in or along the third direction Z. The cover unit 2400 may cover all or part of the top area of the ice tray 2100. The cover unit 2400 may have a preset length in the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The width of the cover unit 2400 may correspond to the width of the guide unit 2200 or may be larger than the width of the guide unit 2200 by set width. Accordingly, the ice tray 2100 may be between the cold air guide unit 2200 and the cover unit 2400. The front end of the cover unit 2400 may contact the top of the drive housing 2320. The cover unit 2400 may be fixed to the inner surface of the case 2410 at least at one point.

A water supply unit 2410 may be at the rear end of the cover unit 2400. The water supply unit 2410 supplies water from an external source to the ice tray 2100. For example, a water supply hole 120 connected to a water supply pipe 121 may be at one side of the case 100. In addition, the water supply unit 2410 may be aligned with the water supply hole 120, and the water flowing through the water supply hole 120 may be supplied to the water supply unit 2410.

A side wall (e.g., a guide side wall) 2401 may be at one side of the cover unit 2400 in or along the second direction Y and may extend from the top of the cover unit 2400 by a preset length. The guide side wall 2401 may be partially of fully coplanar with the passage-forming side wall 2210. Since the bottom of the guide side wall 2401 is adjacent to the top of the passage-forming side wall 2210, the air moving through the passage 2101 may flow into the space above the ice tray 2100.

The other side of the cover unit 2400 in or along the second direction Y (e.g., away from the guide side wall 2401 and the passage-forming side wall 2210) may be open. Accordingly, the ice in the ice tray 2100 may move to the ice bucket 300 through the opening in the other side of the cover unit 2400 in or along the second direction Y.

The ice bucket 300 is under the ice making assembly 200 and contains ice from the ice making assembly 200. The ice bucket 300 may have a preset length along the first direction X and a preset width in the second direction Y. The ice bucket 300 may comprise a container having a center portion that is concave downwards (e.g., U-shaped), and the ice bucket 300 may include a preset volume for containing ice. As seen from the top along the third direction Z, at least part of the ice bucket 300 is positioned outside the ice tray 2100 in the width direction, and the ice supplied from the ice tray 2100 may be contained in the ice bucket 300.

The discharge unit 400 may be at an end of the ice bucket 300. The discharge unit 400 discharges the ice in the ice bucket 300 to the outside of the ice maker 30 (e.g., through the corresponding door 20; see FIG. 1). The discharge unit 400 may be coupled or connected to the front end of the ice bucket 300. The discharge unit 400 may be outside the case 100. The discharge unit 400 has a width corresponding to the case 100 in the second direction Y and a height corresponding to the case 100 in the third direction Z and may shield the case 100. The discharge unit 400 may be detachable from the case 100. Accordingly, if the user separates the discharge unit 400 from the case 100 and moves the discharge unit 400 forward (e.g., out of the corresponding storage space), the ice bucket 300 may be exposed to the outside of the case 100.

The transfer unit 500 moves the ice in the ice bucket 300 to the discharge unit 400. The transfer unit 500 includes a transfer shaft 510 and a transfer housing 520.

As the transfer shaft 510 rotates, the ice in the ice bucket 300 moves to the discharge unit 400. The transfer shaft 510 has a preset length and may be in the ice bucket 300. The transfer shaft 510 may have a length or rotational axis in or along the first direction X. For example, the transfer shaft 510 may be or comprise an auger.

The transfer housing 520 houses a motor that provides power for rotating the transfer shaft 510. The transfer housing 520 may be at one side of the ice bucker 300 in or along the first direction X. The transfer housing 520 may be on the opposite side of the ice bucket 300 from the discharge unit 400. The transfer shaft 510 is coupled or connected to the transfer housing 520 or the motor therein, and may rotate by the power provided by the motor in the transfer housing 520.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the cold air supplied through the cold air duct 110 primarily exchanges heat with the ice tray 2100 while flowing inside the space between the guide unit 2200 and the ice tray 2100. Additionally, the cold air at the front end of the guide unit 2200 may flow into the space above the ice tray 2100 and exchange heat with an upper surface of the water in of the ice tray 2100 as a secondary mechanism for cooling the water in the ice tray and making ice. In addition, some of the cold air supplied through the cold air duct 110 may flow into the space above the ice tray 2100 through the passage(s) 2101 while flowing along the first direction X, and the water in the ice tray 2100 is cooled from three directions at the same time.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passage(s) 2101 may be omitted.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the path of flowing the cold air from the front end of the guide unit 2200 to the space above the ice tray 2100 (e.g., designated by the outline arrow in FIG. 7) may be omitted, and the cold air may flow into the space above the ice tray 2100 directly through the passage 2101.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an ice maker that can effectively make ice and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.

In addition, an ice maker that can reduce the time for freezing water and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.

The above detailed description provides examples of the present invention. In addition, the above description explains by showing preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention may be used in various different combinations, changes and environments. That is, the present invention may be modified or changed within the scope of the spirit of the present invention disclosed in this specification, within a scope equivalent to the disclosed contents, and/or within the scope of the technique(s) or knowledge of the prior art. The above embodiments describe the best conditions for implementing the technical spirit of the present invention, and various changes in the specific application fields and usages of the present invention also can be made. Accordingly, the detailed description of the present invention as described above shows disclosed embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the appended claims should be interpreted as also including other embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit has a front end in front of the ice tray, and is configured to flow the cold air from a top of the guide unit into a space above the ice tray.
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit includes: an ice removing shaft in or above the ice tray and having a preset length; and a drive or drive housing in front of the guide unit, configured to provide power to and/or to rotate the ice removing shaft.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the cold air from the guide unit is blocked by the drive housing.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit comprises a first side wall, the ice tray comprises a second side wall, and each of the first and second side walls has a height corresponding to each other, and the ice maker further includes a passage through which the cold air flows, between the second side wall and the first side wall.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the ice maker further includes a cover unit on or above the ice tray, and the cover unit includes a third side wall at a side of the cover unit in or along a width direction, extending toward the first side wall by a preset length.
 6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the third side wall is partially or fully coplanar with the side wall.
 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit includes the drive and the drive housing, the drive housing encloses or houses the drive, and the drive is configured to rotate the ice removing shaft.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the drive comprises a motor.
 9. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit comprises a first side wall, the ice tray comprises a second side wall, and each of the first and second side walls has a height corresponding to each other, and the ice maker further includes a passage through which the cold air flows, between the second side wall and the first side wall.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the ice maker further includes a cover unit on or above the ice tray, and the cover unit includes a third side wall at a side of the cover unit in or along a width direction, extending toward the first side wall by a preset length.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the third side wall is partially or fully coplanar with the side wall.
 12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the rotation unit includes the drive and the drive housing, the drive housing encloses or houses the drive, and the drive is configured to rotate the ice removing shaft.
 13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the drive comprises a motor.
 14. An ice maker comprising: an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit and comprising a container having a concave center portion; and a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket, wherein the guide unit has a front end in front of the ice tray, and is configured to flow the cold air from a top of the guide unit into a space above the ice tray.
 15. The ice maker according to claim 14, wherein the guide unit comprises a first side wall, the ice tray comprises a second side wall, and each of the first and second side walls has a height corresponding to each other.
 16. The ice maker according to claim 15, further comprising a passage through which the cold air flows, between the second side wall and the first side wall.
 17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit includes a drive and a drive housing, the drive housing encloses or houses the drive, and the drive is configured to rotate the ice removing shaft.
 18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the drive comprises a motor. 